第42章

(’That’sright！’thoughtVal，’pileiton！’)”CrisisearlyinOctober，whentherespondentwroteherthisletterfromhisClub。”

Valsatupandhisearsburned。”Iproposetoreaditwiththeemendationsnecessarytotheepistleofagentlemanwhohasbeen——

shallwesaydining，meLud?”

’Oldbrute！’thoughtVal，flushingdeeper；’you’renotpaidtomakejokes！’”’Youwillnotgetthechancetoinsultmeagaininmyownhouse。

Iamleavingthecountryto-morrow。It’splayedout’——anexpression，yourLudship，notunknowninthemouthsofthosewhohavenotmetwithconspicuoussuccess。”

’Sniggeringowls！’thoughtVal，andhisflushdeepened。”’Iamtiredofbeinginsultedbyyou。’MyclientwilltellyourLudshipthattheseso-calledinsultsconsistedinhercallinghim’thelimit’averymildexpression，Iventuretosuggest，inallthecircumstances。”

Valglancedsidewaysathismother’simpassiveface，ithadahuntedlookintheeyes。’Poormother，’hethought，andtouchedherarmwithhisown。Thevoicebehinddronedon。”’Iamgoingtoliveanewlife。M。D。’””Andnextday，meLud，therespondentleftbythesteamshipTuscaroraforBuenosAires。Sincethenwehavenothingfromhimbutacabledrefusalinanswertotheletterwhichmyclientwrotethefollowingdayingreatdistress，begginghimtoreturntoher。

WithyourLudship’spermission。IshallnowputMrs。Dartieinthebox。”

Whenhismotherrose，Valhadatremendousimpulsetorisetooandsay：’Lookhere！I’mgoingtoseeyoujollywelltreatherdecently。’Hesubduedit，however；heardhersaying，’thetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，’andlookedup。Shemadearichfigureofit，inherfursandlargehat，withaslightflushonhercheek-bones，calm，matter-of-fact；andhefeltproudofherthusconfrontingallthese’confoundedlawyers。’Theexaminationbegan。Knowingthatthiswasonlythepreliminarytodivorce，Valfollowedwithacertaingleethequestionsframedsoastogivetheimpressionthatshereallywantedhisfatherback。

Itseemedtohimthattheywere’foxingOldBagwigsfinely。’

AndhereceivedamostunpleasantjarwhentheJudgesaidsuddenly：”Now，whydidyourhusbandleaveyou——notbecauseyoucalledhim’thelimit，’youknow?”

Valsawhisunclelifthiseyestothewitnessbox，withoutmovinghisface；heardashuffleofpapersbehindhim；andinstincttoldhimthattheissuewasinperil。HadUncleSoamesandtheoldbufferbehindmadeamessofit?Hismotherwasspeakingwithaslightdrawl。”No，myLord，butithadgoneonalongtime。””Whathadgoneon?””Ourdifferencesaboutmoney。””Butyousuppliedthemoney。Doyousuggestthatheleftyoutobetterhisposition?”

’Thebrute！Theoldbrute，andnothingbutthebrute！’thoughtValsuddenly。’Hesmellsarathe’stryingtogetatthepastry！’

Andhisheartstoodstill。If——ifhedid，then，ofcourse，hewouldknowthathismotherdidn’treallywanthisfatherback。Hismotherspokeagain，athoughtmorefashionably。”No，myLord，butyouseeIhadrefusedtogivehimanymoremoney。

Ittookhimalongtimetobelievethat，buthedidatlast——andwhenhedid……””Isee，youhadrefused。Butyou’vesenthimsomesince。””MyLord，Iwantedhimback。””Andyouthoughtthatwouldbringhim?””Idon’tknow，myLord，Iactedonmyfather’sadvice。”

SomethingintheJudge’sface，inthesoundofth

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